diff --git a/src/shared/install.c b/src/shared/install.c
index 0e673b3358..cc628d7369 100644
--- a/src/shared/install.c
+++ b/src/shared/install.c
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@ static int remove_marked_symlinks_fd(
                                 return -ENOMEM;
                         path_simplify(p, false);
 
-                        q = readlink_malloc(p, &dest);
+                        q = chase_symlinks(p, NULL, CHASE_NONEXISTENT, &dest, NULL);
                         if (q == -ENOENT)
                                 continue;
                         if (q < 0) {